Biocompatible waterborne polyurethane-urea elastomer as intelligent anticancer drug release matrix: A sustained drug release study

•WPUU was synthesized by cost effective method using lysine as the internal emulsifier as well as the chain extender.•WPUU coatings have very high thermal stability, adhesion, hardness, and tensile strength.•WPUU were used as intelligent drug release matrix with the controllable release.

Waterborne biodegradable polyurethane-urea (WPUU) elastomer is a revolutionary step in the field of green polymer chemistry. In the present study, emulsifier-free biodegradable WPUU elastomer was synthesized by using lysine as an internal emulsifier as well as a chain extender. WPUU elastomer was used as the stimuli-responsive drug release matrix, loaded by cisplatin as a model anticancer drug. Sustained drug release was studied by changing pH (4.4-7.4), drug release medium, and NCO/OH ratio (3-4). Furthermore, significantly inhibitory effect against Sw-620 cancer lines was observed. Highest cumulative drug release of 71.9% was observed at pH of 7.4 in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) by the system having NCO/OH = 3 for 250 h. The oxidative degradation was evaluated in CoCl2/H2O2 solution. Mechanical properties were tested by using the mechanical testing machine. The synthesized WPUU films exhibited high thermal stability, hardness, tensile strength and hydrophobicity.

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